The world of Umanon. [First Map] Critique wanted

[RhysWasTaken]

I've been working on this for about the last week for my first D&D session next week(I'll be DMing for the first time as well). I used a lot of tutorials off of this website as well as Deviant art and mixed and matched to try and find something I liked. Overall I'm really happy with how it turned out since this is my first real map. I've mad others before but they were just splotches of color in photoshop in rough land shapes, though nothing like this.

I'm not really happy with the mountains, I couldn't find a brush set or style I liked for this particular map so I just settled with marking grey areas on the map to represent where they would be.

Feedback is definitely appreciated, Please tell me what I could do better for my future maps.

Thank you!

The map itself is 8196x4096 pixels, I screwed up a little when making the size as I wanted to fit it inside Roll20 but i'll fix that mistake next time I make something.


jpghalfsize.jpg
(I have had to downsize the resolution to upload here, Full image here https://i.imgur.com/3EptmFD.jpg)

[- JO -]

Hey ! For a first map, it's really great ! Glad you could find help on this Guild...
There are a few things you could ameliorate :
As you said, the mountains are not obvious. Partially because you haven't draw shadows (I simplify a lot...) You could choose another texture to make them look better. If you look at your places covered with ice, you'll see that they look a bit like mountains, because it seems that there are shadows on the texture you choose for ice, so it seems that there is a relief there.
Then, some of your rivers might look strange. There is a discussion now on another thread about this issue : If your land is
"magic" , then it can explain those rivers. If it 's not explained by magic, and the law of physics apply on your world, then the water can only go down, so rivers are very seldom parting (except on deltas, as you draw some of them). Rivers are, most of the time, joining together, from the high territories (mountains) to the sea. Again, I'm making it short...
I can't say much about your landmasses, I guess they are partially imposed by the adventure you wrote.

I hope you don't take those advices the wrong way. You can really do whatever you like : after all, it's a fantasy world, and if anything is possible, it should be possible there.

Anyway, it's a great first map !

I hope you will keep up the good work (on this map or on another) and we will be very glad to see your work on this forum !

PS : I like your profile name a lot ! It made me laugh and I'll keep that idea in mind next time I try to join a forum !

[RhysWasTaken]

Hey ! For a first map, it's really great ! Glad you could find help on this Guild...

Thank you very much.

As you said, the mountains are not obvious. Partially because you haven't draw shadows (I simplify a lot...) You could choose another texture to make them look better. If you look at your places covered with ice, you'll see that they look a bit like mountains, because it seems that there are shadows on the texture you choose for ice, so it seems that there is a relief there.

Thanks for the heads up, I didn't even realize that the top/bottom looked more like mountains then my actual mountains. It's the same brushed used for everything else, I just started with a different base color, Which from now on I will keep in mind when making my mountains.

I just tried to fix it for about 20 minutes but because I didn't use more then 1 layer for my land(Rookie Mistake), It's more then a quick fix for me, So I'll try to fix those up when I wake up(Currently 5:30am for me)

Then, some of your rivers might look strange. There is a discussion now on another thread about this issue : If your land is
"magic" , then it can explain those rivers. If it 's not explained by magic, and the law of physics apply on your world, then the water can only go down, so rivers are very seldom parting (except on deltas, as you draw some of them). Rivers are, most of the time, joining together, from the high territories (mountains) to the sea. Again, I'm making it short...

I saw that thread after I had posted this, I've got it open in a tab and will check it out when I wake up. I wanted the rivers and land masses/mountains to have some form of realism to them and when I was drawing them it made sense as I knew where the land raised and lowered(Half the time, making it up as I go along to justify what I was doing).

All that being said, I just like drawing rivers and think they look cool so I may have over done it(I absolutely did over do it) with the rivers though. I will go back later and fix them up.

I hope you don't take those advices the wrong way. You can really do whatever you like : after all, it's a fantasy world, and if anything is possible, it should be possible there.

No, Thank you for your help! I appreciate the feedback and where I can improve. Most of all this was a learning experience for me so hopefully my next map will be even better(and with better mountains )

PS : I like your profile name a lot ! It made me laugh and I'll keep that idea in mind next time I try to join a forum !

Thank you

[- JO -]

Hello !

If you are still looking for help, you may find useful basics informations on this thread : https://www.cartographersguild.com/s...557#post354557